The fastest way to change your wallpaper

On most phones, you change the wallpaper through Settings. Open Settings, find Display or Home Screen (the name varies by phone), then look for Wallpaper. You'll see options to choose from your phone's built-in images or upload your own photos. Select the image, preview how it looks, and tap Set or Confirm.

The exact path depends on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, and which version you're running. Both take about two minutes once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users go to Settings > Wallpaper > Customize, then choose a photo or built-in image and tap Set.
  • Android users go to Settings > Display > Wallpaper (or Home Screen), select an image, and tap Apply or Set as Wallpaper.
  • You can set different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen on most modern phones.
  • If you want to use your own photo, make sure it's saved in your phone's photo library first.

How to change wallpaper on iPhone

Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Wallpaper. Tap it, then tap Customize. You'll see two options at the bottom: one for your lock screen and one for your home screen. Choose which one you want to change.

Next, you'll pick your image. You can browse Apple's built-in wallpapers by category (Nature, Astronomy, Textures, and so on), or tap Photos to use a picture from your camera roll. Once you've selected an image, you can pinch and zoom to position it how you want. Tap Set, then choose whether to apply it to your lock screen, home screen, or both.

If you want to use a photo you took yourself, make sure it's in your Photos app first. You can take a new photo, download one from the web, or import one from another source — as long as it's in Photos, you can use it as wallpaper.

How to change wallpaper on Android

The steps vary slightly depending on your phone's manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others each customize Android slightly), but the general path is the same. Open Settings and look for Display, then Wallpaper or Home Screen Wallpaper. Some phones call it "Themes" instead.

Once you're in the wallpaper section, you'll see options for built-in images or the ability to choose from your Photos. Select the image you want, preview it, and tap Apply, Set as Wallpaper, or Confirm — the button name changes by phone. Some Android phones let you set different wallpapers for your lock screen and home screen; others use the same image for both.

If you can't find the wallpaper option in Settings, try long-pressing on your home screen (hold your finger on an empty area) and look for a Wallpaper or Customize button that appears at the bottom of the screen. This shortcut works on most Android phones.

Using your own photos as wallpaper

Any photo in your phone's photo library can become your wallpaper. When you're in the wallpaper settings and choose Photos (on iPhone) or Gallery (on Android), you'll see all your saved images. Pick the one you want and adjust the zoom or position if needed.

Keep in mind that very small images may look blurry when stretched across your screen, and very large images may slow down your phone slightly. Photos taken with your phone's camera usually work best because they're already the right size and resolution.

What to do if wallpaper changes won't save

If you set a wallpaper but it reverts to the default after you restart your phone, the issue is usually permissions. Your phone needs permission to access your Photos app. Go back to Settings, find Apps or Application Permissions, locate your Photos app, and make sure it has permission to access storage.

On iPhone, this is rarely a problem. On Android, if you're using a third-party wallpaper app (rather than the built-in wallpaper settings), check that the app has permission to access your photos and to modify system settings.

Using wallpaper apps for more options

If your phone's built-in wallpapers don't appeal to you, third-party apps like Zedge, Unsplash, or Pexels offer thousands of free images. Download one of these apps, browse for an image you like, and the app will usually have a button that says "Set as Wallpaper" or "Apply." The app will then open your phone's wallpaper settings and apply the image for you.

These apps are optional — you don't need them to change your wallpaper. But if you want access to a wider range of images without hunting through your own photos, they're a straightforward way to find something you like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different wallpapers on my lock screen and home screen?

Yes, on most modern iPhones and many Android phones. When you set wallpaper, you'll see an option to choose which screen to apply it to. Older phones may use the same wallpaper for both, but newer models almost always let you customize each one separately.

What size should my photo be to use as wallpaper?

Your phone will automatically resize any photo to fit your screen, so size isn't critical. Photos taken with your phone's camera work best because they're already high resolution. If you're downloading an image from the web, aim for something at least 1080 pixels wide to avoid blurriness.

Why does my wallpaper look different after I set it?

Your phone may zoom or crop the image to fit your screen, especially if the photo's proportions don't match your display. When you're setting the wallpaper, use the preview and pinch-to-zoom options to position the image the way you want it before you confirm.

Can I schedule my wallpaper to change automatically?

iPhone's lock screen customization lets you set up a rotating lock screen that cycles through multiple images. On Android, some phones have a built-in feature for this, but it varies by manufacturer. Third-party apps like Muzei or Backdrops can automate wallpaper changes on Android if your phone doesn't have this built in.

Is it safe to download wallpapers from third-party apps?

Wallpaper apps from major developers (Zedge, Unsplash, Pexels) are safe. Stick to apps with good reviews and high download counts. Avoid apps that ask for unusual permissions — a wallpaper app should only need access to your photos and system settings, not your contacts or messages.